Starting device for explosive-engines.



M. F. COLE.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVB ENGINES.

- APPLICATION FILED MAB. 2, 1912.

v 1,043,399; Patented NOV.5, 1912.

MILTON E. COLE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR' OF ONE-SIXTH TO CHARLES A. SMITH,

ONE-SIXTH TO ALBERT BURNETT, ONE-SIXTH T EDWARD L. SCROTE, AND ONE- SIXTH TO JAMES RLROWLETT, ALL OF- AKRON, OHIO, AND ONE-SIXTH TO FRED- ERICK E. HOOTS, OF O'UYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPTJOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5,1912.

Application filed March 2, 1912. Serial No. 681,301.

' To all whom it may concern:

is a specification.

T1115 invention relates to starting devicesfor explosive. engines and is especially adapted for use in. connection with engines used on automobiles.

The object of the invention is to provide mechanism for imparting an initial rotary movement to the engine-shaft preliminary to the automatic operation of the engine by the successive explosions in the cylinder thereof. This object I accomplish through the medium of mechanism operated by a fluid under pressure which automatically connects an Q erat' shaft with the engine-shaft, which is ollowed by the rapid otation of the two shafts to start the engine, after which the operating mechanism is disengaged fromthe engine-shaft.

My invention contemplates the successive performance of these operations by the employment of an easily controlled fluid under pressure.

With the foregoingand other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts-constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a. art hereo wherein is shown the preferre embodiment of the invention, but

it is to be u'nderstood l that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims pended. l??- awings in'i-which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the different figures, Figure.1,;is a vertical, central, sectional view ofa-device embodying on line Y-Y of Fig. '2; Fig. 2, is a sectional view this invention; the section be' of the device on line X-X of F' 1; Fig. .3, is a view in sideelevation of t e mechanism for transmitting the reciprocal motion of a portion of the mechanism to a rotary motion; Fig. 4, is a section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 on line Z; and, Figs.

5 and 6, are respectively, end and sectional.

of the closure member 4 is a spring 6 constituting a resilient abutment. Slidably mounted in the cylinder 2 is a piston 7 provided with packing-rings 8 and connected with a depending piston-rod 9 the lower end 10 of which extends through the opening 3 which constitutes a bearing and guide therefor. Surrounding the piston-rod '9 within the cylinder 2 is a coiled resilient element 11 thenormal tendency ofwhich is to raise the piston 7 upwardly into contact with the spring 6 which latter acts as a cushioning abutment therefor. The lower end 10 of the piston-rod 9 is provided on one face with a plurality of ratchet-teeth 12 for a purpose to be described.

The lower portion of the casing 1 is provided Witha pair of laterally-extending'lugs 13 through the openings 14 of which may be passed hold-fast devices for securing the device to a suitable supporting medium. The lower' end of the casing 1 is enlarged and provided with a central opening 15 and with two laterally-extending portions 16 and 17 in which are formed bearings for a horizontal, rotatable and longitudinallyshift-able shaft 18. The bearing in the lateral extension 16 constitutes a chamber which is closed through the medium of a cap 19 and is provided with an inlet-opening 20. The shaft 18 is provided with packingrings 21 to form a tightejoint within the bearing 16 in which'itis placed.

Mounted on the shaft 18 is a wide-faced spur-gear 22 which is freelyrevoluble on the shaft 18 andis held against longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft through the medium of a set screw '23 which engages in a circumferential groove or channel- 24 which is indicated in dottedlines in Figs.

land 2. The face of the gear 22 which opposes the lateral-extension 17 is provided with a cylindricalrecess 25 within which is positioned a ratchet-wheel 26 securely fixed to the shaft 18 by a key 27 or otherwise. Secured to the gear 22 within the recess 25 is a pawl 28 the free end of which is held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 26 through the medium of a resilient element 29. Surrounding the shaft 18 is a resilient element 30 one end of which bears against the lateral face of the ratchet-wheel provided with a squared socket 38 to receive a hand-crank-to permit manual manipulation of the shaft 18 when desired.

When it is desired to start an explosive engine by utilizing this device a supply of fluid such as gas or air is admitted to the chamber in the extension 16 through the inlet 20 which causes the shaft 18 to move to the right in Fig. 1 sufiiciently to cause the notch 32 to engage the pin, 33 on the engine-shaft 3i and while maintaining this interlockin engagement of the two elements a supply 0 fluid under pressure is admitted through the opening 5 to the cylinder 2 which forces the piston 7 downwardly over-j f coming'the resilient element 11 and causing the teeth 12 on the piston-rod 9 to rotate the free running gear 22 rapidly in the directionof the arrow in- Fig. 3. This rotation of the gear 22' will cause a simultaneous revolution of the ratchet-wheel 26 and as this ratchet-wheel is fixedly secured to the shaft 18 the latter will be rotated sufliciently to impart an initial rotation to the engineshaft to permit the starting of the engine. As soon as the engine is started the pressure in the chamber within the extension 16 1s removed permitting the resilient element 30 to shift the shaft 18 longitudinallyto restore the parts to the position shown n Fig. 1, thereby disconnectin the shaft-18 from the engine-shaft 34. A ter 'disconnectmg these 'two elements, the pressure of fluid w1th1n the cylinder 2 is removed allowing the spring 11 to restore the piston to 11381101111211 upper position, in doing wh1c h a reverse rotation of the gear 22 is permitted by reason of the fact that the pawl 28 will run inoperatively'ove'r the teeth of the ratchet-Wheel .28 and the terminationof the upward movement of the piston 27 will be cushioned by the spring 6. I

If it is desired at any time to en 'ne by hand the cap 19 is removed and a suitable tool, such as a wrench or handcrank, is inserted in the socket-85 and the. shaft .18 is manipulated m the ordmary way until a sufiicieht number of rotations of the shaft have been given to cause the initial starting of the engine.

I claim:

1. A starting device for explosive engines comprising a cylinder, a piston therein adapted to be operated by a fluid under pressure, a piston-rod carried by said piston, said piston-rod provided with rackteeth, a rotatable shaft adapted to be temporarily coupled with a suitable-portion of an engine to be started and adapted to be longitudinally shifted into engagement therewith by a fluid under pressure, a gear loosely rotatable on said shaft, a ratchetwheel fixedly mounted on said shaft, a pawl carried by said gear adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel when said gear is operated in one direction for rotating said shaft, and

resilient means for withdrawing said shaft from engagement with said engine portion. 2. A starting device for explosive engines comprising a cylinder, a piston therein.

adapted to be operated by a fluid under pressure, a piston-rod carried by said piston,

said piston provided with rack-teeth, a rotatable shaft adapted to be temporarily coupled with a suitable portion of an en ine to be started and adapted to be longitu inally shifted into engagement therewith by a fluid under pressure, a gear freely rotatable on said shaft and movable longitudinally in unison therewith, means for transmitting movement from said gea to said shaft when said gear is rotated in one direction, said means being inoperative when.- said gear is operated in the o posite direction, and

means for withdrawing said shaft from engagement with said engine portion.

3. A starting deviee for ex losive engines comprising a cylinder, a flui -0 rated piston therein,a iston-rod provide with rackteeth carried y said piston, a shaft suitably mounted for coupling it with a suitable portion of an engine to be started, a gear mounted onsaid shaft and receiving motion from said iston-rod,- means for transmitting motion om said ear tosaid shaft when said gear is rotatedunone direction, said means emg moperatlve when said gear is 0 erated in t e opposite direction, said s aft ada ted' to be shifted into engagement with sai engine sure, means or withdrawing said shaft from connection with said engine portion, said shaft rovidedwith means to receive a handtool or independently rotating it.

ortion by a fluid under pres- 4-. A starting device for exp sive engines comprising a casing, a ortion of which contherein, a-piston-rod carried y said piston,

said piston-rod provided with rack-teeth, a I

rotatable shaft mounted in said casing provided' with means for coupling it to a suitable portion ofan engine to be started, said shaft adapted to be moved into engagement with'said engine portion by a fluid under pressure, a freely rotatable gear mounted on said shaft, means for communicating motion from said gear to said shaft when the former is revolved in one direction, said means being inoperative when said motion is reversed, and a resilient element adapted to normally hold 'said shaft out of engagement with said engine portion.

5. A starting device for explosive engines comprising a casing, a portion of which const-itutes a-cylinder, a reciprocatory fluid-operated piston in said cylinder, a piston-rod provided with rack-teeth carried by said piston, a rotary shaft mounted in suitable bearings in said casing, one of said bearings projecting beyond the end of said shaft to constitute a chamber, a closure device for said chamber, a fluid inlet to said chamber, said shaft provided withmeans for coupling it with a suitable portion of an en no to be started, said shaft further provided with means to permit the manual manipulation of said shaft when said closure device is removed, a gearfreelyrotatable on said shaft and en aging the teeth on said pistonrod', means %or communicating motion from said gear to said shaft when said shaft is rotated in one direction, said means being inoperativ'e when said motion is reversed, and means adapted to longitudinally shift said shaft out of engagement with said engine portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses..

' MILTON E. COLE. Witnesses:

C. E. 'HUMPHREY, .A. L, MoOmN'rooK. 

